Mont Rose Sauvage
Discovering a unique and wild itinerary

Journey

The Tour du Mont Rose offers you the chance to explore wild paths and tracks surrounded by unique flora and fauna, in a grandiose mineral setting. Let yourself be seduced by this unique offer and come with us to discover this corner of the Alps.

Program

Wild Monte Rosa trip itinerary

DAY 1
STAFFAL - COL DI BETTOLINA - REFUGE

Elevation gain: +1,000 m and -850 m, 10 km
Walking time: approx. 6 hours

We meet at 8:45 a.m. in the pretty village of Staffal, above Gressoney, at the cable car station to park our cars in the car park.

We then set off along a pretty path opposite Monte Rosa. The glaciers above us are magnificent, the path is wild and we are sure to encounter ibex and marmots. We will eat at an altitude of over 3,000 metres, between the Champoluc and Gressoney valleys. On our way, we will meet mountaineers climbing towards the Sella refuge to ascend Castor, which rises to an altitude of 4,228 metres. We then descend fairly quickly to our refuge to sleep on the edge of a larch forest with a beautiful view of the Champoluc valley.
A superb first day with magnificent panoramas and short enough to get us started!

DAY 2
REFUGE - RIFUGIO MEZZALAMA - CHAMPOLUC

Elevation: +1,000 and -1,350 metres and 15 kilometres
Walking time: approximately 7 to 8 hours

We walk at the foot of the Monte Rosa glaciers, where we have two choices: the Valle delle Cime Bianche or the Val de Véraz to head towards the Verra Glaciers, which are among the largest glaciers in the Alps. The Valle delle Cime Bianche has a Dolomite feel to it, with large lakes and streams and a magnificent view of the Dos de Rolin at an altitude of 3,898 metres. If we head towards the Mezzalama refuge, we will see a superb lake with the gigantic Breithorn (4,160 metres), Castor (4,225 metres) and Pollux (4,089 metres) glaciers. It is a very wild valley and we will meet mountaineers descending from the peaks and the Ayas Guides refuge. After a superb climb, we will descend into the Champoluc valley, where we will take a short bus ride to the valley and then reach our superb refuge overlooking Champoluc, where you will be seduced by Italian cuisine and the legendary hospitality of the Walser people (a population that stretched from the Valais at Zermatt and the Saas Valley in Switzerland to the Monte Rosa region).
This is the longest day of the trek, but you will be energised by the beauty of the landscapes!

DAY 3
PUNTA DEL LAGO

Elevation: + 1000 m and – 600 m and 12 km
Walking time: approximately 6 to 7 hours

We leave the refuge to reach Alpe Masognaz: a high-end village renovated by the same family in a unique Walser style. After this magnificent village, we climb up a wild valley to reach the Col di Palasina, where we can reach a 3,000 m summit if you wish, or enjoy the many lakes in the surrounding area and Punta del Lago. In the evening, we will sleep in a large refuge at the foot of a beautiful gneiss cliff where ibexes are regularly spotted.
This is a superb, fairly easy day that allows you to recharge your batteries after the wonderful day before!

DAY 4
PUNTA VALFREDDA

Elevation: + 800 m and - 1400 m and 12 km.
Walking time: approximately 6 to 7 hours

This day offers us a high-altitude journey between peaks and ridges at an altitude of nearly 3,000 metres. The hike takes place on a superb path with breathtaking views. We pass through many beautiful villages. The Walser Valley has a traditional chalet style, as can be seen in Zermatt in Switzerland. We will have the chance to pass by some superb lakes and may consider climbing an additional peak depending on the weather and your fitness level. Your guide will adapt to the group.

This day allows us to return to the Gressoney Valley after spending two days in the Champoluc Valley.

DAY 5
COL ET LAC PINTER

Elevation: + 1050 m and - 1400 m and approximately 12 km.
Walking time: approximately 7 hours

We set off with light backpacks as today we are doing a loop and will return to the refuge to collect our belongings before heading back to the starting point of the trek in Staffal.

We climb lightly to Col Pinter, the path is fast with many magnificent Walser alpine chalets. The climb starts in a superb larch forest and then beautiful alpine pastures. Col Pinter is magnificent with a superb lake below for those who want to take a last swim in the mountains!
Above Col Pinter, it is possible to climb Monte Pinter at an altitude of 3,120 metres for a superb view of the Monte Rosa glaciers, but this is only for those who wish to do so and only in good weather if your guide thinks you are technically and physically strong enough, as it is clearly a step above the rest of the trek in terms of physical and technical difficulty (3 stars).

We then descend to the refuge to collect our belongings and head down into the valley through a magnificent larch forest with thousand-year-old trees. along a superb waterfall. In the valley, we will then take a shuttle bus back to our cars, where we can all have a drink together in a restaurant before going our separate ways with beautiful images of the mountains in our minds and a wonderful human adventure with the group!

A superb last day of sport that will allow you to see the next level, or else you can go for a swim in the peaceful lake, depending on what you feel like doing!

Materiel

Equipment for the Tour

The bag

If possible, take a bag that is light enough to carry well, and no heavier than 1.5 kg.

• Small body shape: 45 litres max
• Large body shape: 50 litres max

Your rucksack should have 10 to 15 litres of space for the food you will be carrying for lunch and sometimes also for the next day, which the mountain huts or guides will give you.

Kilos to carry - it's better to wash than to carry:

• Small body shape: 5/6 kg max, without food and water
• Large body shape: 6/7 kg max, without food and water

Consider 2 litres of water and 500 grams of food for the day.

Head-to-toe equipment for the trek:

• a cap or hat for the sun
• a cap for the cold
• a buff or choker, optional but very pleasant in bad weather
• a Gore Tex jacket or equivalent for bad weather
• a pair of gloves, waterproof if possible
• a small down jacket or fleece to withstand sub-zero temperatures
• two jumpers: one light and one warmer; if it's cold, we'll use all the layers
• two or three technical T-shirts
• 2 to 4 pairs of socks, which you can wash in the torrents near the refuges (use solid soap to wash)
• trousers
• tights
• shorts
• a bag cover for the rain
• a waterproof bag to keep a change of clothes dry
• a change of clothes for the refuge
• a pair of hiking boots with Vibram soles or good quality trail shoes from 20 July, if possible try them on before the trek

Must-haves :

• a light sleeping sheet for the refuge
• 2 telescopic walking poles
• Canteen or water bottle to provide at least 2 litres of water
• sun cream factor 30 to 50
• A pair of category 3 sunglasses
• a light headlamp
• small treats such as dried fruit and chocolate
• cash and your identity card or valid passport

Toiletries :

• a light, quick-drying towel, such as a hiking towel
• body soap
• Toothbrush with toothpaste or solid toothpaste
• small shampoo (specialist shops sell small bottles that you can keep for the rest of your hiking life)
• a pair of earplugs to help you sleep at night in the refuge

Medecines & others:

• your medication
• a light survival blanket
• nail clippers
• what you need to make small dressings
• a few compresses and plasters or, better still, Strappal

Your guide will have a more comprehensive first-aid kit in case of a major accident.

A little treat: a small book or pack of cards (weighing less than 150 grams)...

Meal necessities:

• a light Opinel-type knife
• a fork and a spoon
• a local speciality to share with the rest of the team, liquid or solid

Weight is the hiker's enemy, but a frozen or soaking wet hiker is a hiker without pleasure!

So take the time to prepare your rucksack well and weigh it before you set off to check that without water or food your bag is 6 to 7 KG, but no more!

Level

Physical level 2.5/5

FAIRLY SPORTY COURSE

Effort corresponding to about 900 - 1000 m of ascent per day. It's a bit harder, it is better if you have already had some experience on a mountain trip or if you like endurance sports and practice them regularly!

Technicallevel 2.5/5

CONFIRMED MOUNTAIN HIKER

Useful infos

Useful information for preparing your trek

Meeting point on the first day

We will meet at 8:45 a.m. in the pretty village of Staffal, above Gressoney, at the cable car station, to park our cars in the car park.

End of the trek

The tour group finishes at around 4:00 pm in Staffal (Aosta Valley).

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is compulsory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (approximately 10,000 Euros).

Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https: //www.assurance-multi-sports.com (non applicable for North American citizen). You must take out ‘multi-risk impact’ insurance. Other types of insurance may not provide the same level of cover, so please read your insurance policy carefully.

How to reach Aosta Valley

• Via Chamonix Mont Blanc – you can reach Chamonix by train from the main French airports or from Geneva airport – then you can reach Courmayeur – Aosta Valley through the Mont Blanc Tunnel (there are buses connections from Chamonix to Aosta Valley, but if you would like to be free to move it is advisable to rent a car).
• Via Geneva or Martigny – you can easily reach Martigny by train from Geneva airport - then you reach Aosta city center via the tunnel of Grand Saint Bernard (there are buses connections from Martigny to Aosta Valley, but if you would like to be free to move it is advisable to rent a car).
• Via Milan/Turin airport – rent a car directly to reach Aosta via the highway
  • Rent a car directly to reach Aosta via the motorway;
  • By train: https://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia-france.html
• Or via Bourg Saint Maurice (73700, France) - Col du Petit Saint Bernard - you can reach Bourg Saint Maurice by train from the main French airports. Once in Bourg Saint Maurice you will need to rent a car to reach the Aosta Valley via the Col du Petit Saint Bernard (2 hours drive). It's a slightly longer trip but you can save the toll at the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

Public transports Aosta Valley

• Bus trasport from Chamonix to Courmayeur: https://aosta.arriva.it/line/courmayeur-chamonix/
• Bus trasport from Courmayeur to Aosta : https://aosta.arriva.it/en/line/aosta-courmayeur-2/
• Bus transport from Milan to Aosta: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/aosta-milano/
• Bus transport whithin the Aosta Region: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/timetables-and-routes/

Budget and currency

Italy is in the Eurozone, so the currency is the Euro (€).
The shelter has a credit card terminal, however, we strongly advise you to bring cash!
Be aware of the usual bank charges when purchasing goods or services with your credit card.